The President of the Government inaugurates the 7th Ambassadors' Conference

Sánchez reiterates his support for Brazilian democracy and warns of the danger of extremist movements

2023.1.9

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Square of the Marquis of Salamanca, Madrid

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has opened the 7th Ambassadors' Conference at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, which is being held on 9 and 10 January in Madrid, bringing together around 130 Spanish ambassadors in countries around the world and before international organisations to discuss the main foreign policy challenges that Spain will face in 2023.

Pedro Sánchez began his speech by reiterating his support for the President of Brazil, Lula Da Silva, in view of events this Sunday in Brasilia. "The news from Brazil reminds us of the greatest threat to democracy, peace and prosperity in the world," he said, underlining the danger posed to freely and democratically elected institutions by the resurgence of extremist movements.

In this regard, the President of the Government addressed the ambassadors, underlining the values upon which Spain's foreign action is based: democracy, gender equality, human rights and respect for national and international institutions. "These values are at the antipodes of this repulsive phenomenon and are the best antidote to the number one threat of our time," he underlined.

The President of the Government thanked the ambassadors for their dedication and commitment to the projection of Spain in the world, and urged them to be proactive in the search for opportunities and in their dialogue with the authorities in the countries where they are accredited. President Sánchez also recalled that "our external action is the continuation of our internal conviction", reiterating the will to project the values of peace, solidarity, sustainability and feminism to the world.

Pedro Sánchez highlighted the impact of Putin's invasion of Ukraine in terms of energy, food and the challenge to the international security architecture. The president also stressed the need for Europe to position itself intelligently and develop its open strategic autonomy.

In this context of uncertainty, the president highlighted the evolution of inflation in Spain which, at 5.6%, is almost 4 points below the European average. In addition, Pedro Sánchez referred to the recent abolition of the 'voto rogado', stressing that this is a democratic advance that will facilitate the electoral participation of the 2.3 million Spaniards with the right to vote living abroad.

Three lines of action

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, during his speech at the opening ceremony of the 7th Ambassadors' Conference | Pool Moncloa / Fernando Calvo

The president has identified multilateralism, solidarity and feminism as the axes that will define Spanish foreign policy in 2023. In this regard, he highlighted the relevance of the multilateral events that will take place in 2023, including the International Conference on Oceans, the Summit on the Progress of the SDGs and the Summit on the Future, in a year when the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights will also be celebrated.

In the field of multilateralism, Pedro Sánchez underlined Spain's commitment to the fight against the climate emergency and the promotion of the ecological transition, announcing the approval, at the next Council of Ministers, of the Royal Decree regulating Spain's participation in the first four of the eleven renewable hydrogen projects approved by the EU, which include subsidies worth €74 million from European funds. In addition, this same Council of Ministers will debate the proposed reform of the electricity market, "which will have the dual purpose of facilitating the deployment of renewables and ensuring an equitable distribution of income between consumers and energy producers", the president stressed.

In the area of solidarity, he highlighted the recent adoption of the Law on Cooperation, recalling Spain's response in welcoming the Ukrainian refugees who arrived in our country.

In relation to the commitment to feminism, Pedro Sánchez highlighted the incorporation of women into diplomatic careers in Spain, underlining that for the first time in history, in the most recent promotion for entry into the Spanish diplomatic service there are more women than men. "We are a country that is committed to real equality between men and women, and this is how we are seen in the world, as a reference for feminism".

Five regional priorities

The President of the Government has identified the five regional priorities for Spanish foreign policy action, highlighting Spain's commitment to Europe, in a year in which our country will hold the presidency of the Council of the EU in its second half. Pedro Sánchez stressed that the presidency "offers a unique opportunity to promote the strengthening of the EU as a political entity on the new world stage".

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, greets those attending the VII Conference of Ambassadors, which its held on January 9 and 10 in Madrid | Pool Moncloa / Fernando Calvo

"The Europeanism of Spanish society did not waver even at the critical moment of the financial crisis a decade ago", the president emphasised, while stressing that "the Europhobic currents that have caused so much damage in neighbouring countries have not even made a dent in our country". Highlighting the Europeanism of Spanish society, the President of the Government recalled that 2022 showed the clear need for this common project, alluding to the European response to COVID-19 and Russian aggression against Ukraine.

He also recalled the implementation of hitherto unprecedented measures to protect citizens. "Spain is one of the most advanced countries in the world in terms of COVID vaccination and is the most advanced country in the implementation of recovery and resilience funds. It is also a protagonist in the green energy transition", he recalled. He also highlighted the impact of the Iberian solution as "decisive for Spain to have the lowest inflation rate in the whole of the EU in November".

President Sánchez underlined the role that our country plays today at the European level: "A decade ago, Spain was implementing social cuts and importing financial bailouts from the EU," he said. "Today, Spain is protecting families and businesses by negotiating solutions such as the European funds and exporting others such as the Iberian solution".

President Sánchez addressed some of the challenges that Europe will face in 2023, including the development of strategic autonomy, the reform of economic governance, the reform of the electricity market to decouple gas prices from electricity prices, and the completion of the ambitious climate package contained in the Fit-for-55. "We want the Spanish Presidency to facilitate agreements in these and other cases that are still open," said the president.

He also highlighted the Atlanticist dimension of foreign policy. "Spain's commitment to Euro-Atlantic security is embodied in our express intention to fulfil our defence commitment," he said. He also reiterated his desire for the Spanish Presidency to expand the EU's network of alliances with regions that are crucial for Spain. In particular, he was referring to Latin America and the Southern Neighbourhood. "We intend to organise two summits to relaunch our strategic partnerships".

Family photo of the 7th Ambassadors' Conference, which is held on January 9 and 10 in Madrid | Pool Moncloa / Fernando Calvo

Third, the president addressed the importance of ties between Spain and Latin America, highlighting the relevance of the European Union-Latin America summit to be held during the Spanish Presidency, a meeting that has not taken place since 2015. "Spain will promote the updating of the EU's trade agreement with Mexico, progress in the ratification of the agreement with Chile and the definitive conclusion of the agreement with Mercosur as priority actions," he explained.

The president stressed that Latin America is a horizon of opportunities, referring firstly to Colombia, "where we support President Petro's plans to achieve total peace", and then to Venezuela, where Spain is backing the political dialogue process underway. With regard to Brazil, the President of the Government recalled Lula Da Silva's inaugural speech, stressing that it opens up a horizon of hope that transcends borders. "I am convinced that Brazilian democracy will prevail and that this new political phase will give us the opportunity to advance our common interests".

Pedro Sánchez also referred to Asia, recalling the central place occupied by China in our foreign policy. "Spain must boost its relations with China within the framework agreed in the EU, maintaining dialogue on key issues such as climate change", he stressed, emphasising that "we must also strengthen our relations with partners such as Japan, South Korea and India".

Last, the President addressed Spain's relations with North Africa, indicating that this is the fifth pillar of our foreign policy. "We must support the promotion of African solutions to the continent's problems," he said, while reiterating Spain's support for the African Union to become a full member of the G20.

Pedro Sánchez thanked the ambassadors for their work, recalling that Spain's external action is a continuation of our internal conviction. "You are the image and emblem of an extraordinary country called Spain", he concluded.

Non official translation